Clothes-pounder



C. BOWMAN.

I CLOTHES POUNDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 1921.

1,898,06 1 Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

IN VEN TOR.

' A TTORNE Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLOTHES-POUNDER.

Application filed April 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Crmnnns Bowen-xx, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Founders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clothes pounders, and it relates particularly to the construction of the pounder head employed in these structures.

The washing of clothes is facilitated and the amount of labor involved in the operation is materially lessened, as compared, for

' instance, with hand rubbing, by employing an implement, mechanically or manually operated, by which water, preferably containing a cleansing material, is alternately forced up and down through the interstices of the fabrics to be cleansed. This is well known, but the forms of the implements heretofore made for the purpose are defective or objectionable for many reasons. Generally they have been too expensive for general use, and in many instances the parts of the devices are of such constructions as to be easily bent or broken after short use, or they present for contact with clothes to be washed parts with which the clothes become entangled and torn.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a clothes pounder of such construction that when alternately forced against and withdrawn from clothes immersed in water containing soap or other dirt remover, the water will be partially squeezed from the clothes and also will be projected upon their upper surfaces as it is pressed against them, and will by suction draw water through them as it is withdrawn, thereby freeing them from dirt and at the same time agitating the water containing soap or other cleansing material thoroughly to dissolve the latter and render it most efficient.

A further purpose which I have in view is to provide an implement for functioning as above set forth, which shall be of a simple and strong construction, capable of long continuous use without wear or derangement of parts, and in which the portions thereof which in use contact with the clothes to be washed shall present no surfaces by which the clothes can be injured or with which they can become entangled or enga ed.

The invention consists in a pounder head Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.22,1921.

1921. Serial No. 459,219.

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of the pounder head.

The principal part of the pounder head is composed of a hollow body 1, preferably cone-shaped and of metal, having the larger end thereof open, and surrounded by a rounded or beaded edge 2 to present to the clothes with which it is to contact a surface which cannot engage or injure them. The body may with advantage be made of galvanized sheet iron having the edge of the open end turned back upon itself to form the bead 2, or it may be of cast, preferably non-corrosive, metal.

The smaller end of the cone-shaped body has extending through and permanently attached to it, as by soldering, a hollow rod or tube 8, and this rod or tube extends centrally through the body and projects beyond the open end thereof.

Practically the entire operative face of the pounder head is composed of a circular foraminous concavo-convex plate 4, the concave face of which is secured at its center to the end of the tube which extends beyond the open end of the body, retaining it in place concentric with the body.

The tube 3 extends such a distance beyond the beaded edge of the body, and the shape of the plate 4 is such that when the parts are assembled the periphery of the plate is located a short distance within the mouth of the body. The relative diameters of the body 1 and plate 4 are such that a narrow circular space 5 intervenes between the parts, which space is too narrow to permit the entrance into it of any considerable amount of fabric. Thus while the engagement of the edge of the plate with clothes against which the head is pressed is prevented by reason of extending inward beyond the curved or beaded edge 2 which will press upon the clothes, suflicient space around the plate to allow ingress and egress of water to and from the interior of the body is provided.

The implement is herein shown as provided with a handle 6 one end of which is introduced into the end of the tube 3 for hand operation, but an understanding of the invention will make clear its availability as part of a machine involving mechanical means for imparting reciprocating movement to one or to a plurality of the heads.

In the use of the pounder on a body of clothes immersed in water containing as usual soap or other cleansing medium it is placed beneath the surface of the water and is alternately firmly pressed against the clothes and withdrawn to relieve them of the pressure. As the rounded surface of the perforated plate is pressed on the clothes the water, etc, is forced through the clothes and at the same time water is forced through the perforations in the plate to the interior of the conical body, displacing the water contained in the latter and ejecting it forcibly through the circular space between the plate and the body. As the pounder is raised after firmly impressing the lower edge of the body on the clothes a suction of considerable force tending to draw water upward through the clothes is exerted. The passage of the water through the clothes in opposite directions as described, in addition to the churning of the water in contact with the clothes by ejecting it from the body of the pounder, quickly frees the clothes from accumulation of dirt, etc, and at the same time serves thoroughly to dissolve any cleansing medium contained in the water and to evenly distribute it throughout the Water, adding to its effectiveness. The'outer convex face of the perforated plate and the beaded circular edge of the body present no irregular or projecting parts liable to engage or impose wear upon the clothes with which they are brought into contact in the use of the implement.

I claim:

A clothes pounder comprising a hollow body having a circular open end, a hollow perforated semispherical member secured to the body and having its major portion extending beyond the body, the edges of such member extending into the open end of the body and being spaced therefrom.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES BOWMAN. 

